Jenny’s REESources-October 23, 2016
UPCOMING EVENTS: Â
Nov. 4: Â Field Pea Production Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Culbertson Ag Complex Bldg, RSVP (308) 334-5666 orsstepanovic2@unl.edu
Nov. 14:  Ag Land Lease Workshop 9:30 a.m. and Flexible Cash Lease Workshop, 1:30 p.m., 4-H Building, York, Please RSVP to 402-362-5508 or jrees2@unl.edu.  No charge and you¹re welcome to attend one or both workshops.  Other locations:  http://go.unl.edu/6mya
Nov. 15: Â Principles of Soil Health, Adaptive Grazing and Cover Crop Integration, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Adams Co. Fairgrounds, RSVP 402-461-7209
Nov. 15: Â Principles of Soil Health, Adaptive Grazing and Cover Crop Integration, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Gage Co. Extension Office, RSVP 402-223-1384
Nov. 17: Â Grain Marketing Workshop, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Dawson County Extension Office, 1002 Plum Creek Parkway, RSVP go.unl.edu/marketingworkshops <http://cropwatch.unl.edu/go.
Nov. 28:Â Market Journal Road Show, 1-4 p.m., Holiday Inn 110 Second Avenue Kearney,http://marketjournal.unl.edu/
Dec. 1: Â Solar Power in Ag Workshop, 1-3 p.m., 4-H Building, York, RSVP to 402-362-5508 or jrees2@unl.edu
Dec. 1:Â Market Journal Road Show, 1-4 p.m., Lifelong Learning Center 701 E. Benjamin Avenue Norfolk,http://marketjournal.unl.edu/
Dec. 2:Â Market Journal Road Show, 9 a.m.-Noon, Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center 2021 Transformation Drive Lincoln, http://marketjournal.unl.edu/
Dec. 5:Â Cover Crop and No-Till Conference featuring Gabe Brown, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Trotter Event Center, Ord, RSVP 308-346-3393
Dec. 5:Â Field to Market Workshop, 4-H Building, York, Please RSVP to 402-362-5508 or jrees2@unl.edu
Dec. 6: Â Grain Marketing Workshop, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Webster County Fairgrounds on the west side of Crescent Street between Helen and Mariel streets, RSVP go.unl.edu/marketingworkshops <http://cropwatch.unl.edu/go.
Dec. 14: Â Farmers/Ranchers College Dr. David Kohl, 1-4 p.m., Bruning Opera House, Bruning
The season of winter meetings is quickly approaching! This column will focus on a few upcoming programs in addition to lawn and insect questions. I would also encourage you to check out this week’s CropWatch at http://cropwatch.unl.edu for crop-related articles. One which may be of particular interest is regarding the performance of the Cry1F Bt corn against western bean cutworm in Nebraska.Â
Landlord/Tenant Cash and Flexible Lease Workshop will be held on November 14th at the 4-H Building at the York County Fairgrounds in York. The cash lease workshop will run from 9:30 a.m.-Noon (registration from 9-9:30 a.m.). The flexible lease workshop will run from 1:30-4:00 p.m. (registration from 1-1:30 p.m.). There is no charge thanks to sponsorship by the North Central Risk Management Education Center. Lunch will be on your own. We encourage landlords, tenants, and spouses to attend. Attendees may attend one or both of the workshops. Please RSVP to the York County Extension Office at 402-362-5508 or jrees2@unl.edu.Â
The goal of these workshops is to develop leases that are right for both parties while maintaining positive relationships. Topics for the cash lease workshop include: Latest information about land values and cash rental rates for the area and state; Lease communication; Lease termination; Review of common lease provisions with emphasis on common provision questions; Legal issues related to land ownership; Ownership transition; State/federal resources for beginning farmers and ranchers; Other topics as time allows. Topics for the flexible lease workshop include: What a flex lease is, how to set up a flex lease and common flex lease provisions. The workshop is designed to allow both parties to set up leases as simple or complex as they desire.Â
Crop Insurance Workshop:Â Ag professionals, including growers and ranchers, who wish to enhance their knowledge of risk management and their ability to design an appropriate risk management plan are encouraged to register for a Nov. 9 crop insurance workshop. It will be hosted by Nebraska Extension at the Heartland Events Center, 700 E. Stolley Park Rd., Grand Island.
This year’s workshop will focus on farm survival, outlook and risk management strategies. Topics discussed during the workshop include where to consider cutting costs, whole-farm crop insurance, current crop insurance policy issues, and a market outlook provided by Jeff Stolle of the Nebraska Cattlemen and Cory Walters of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
In addition, the workshop will feature a panel on decision making in the current financial condition of agriculture. The panel will include: Roy Smith, retired producer and grain marketer, will discuss how to survive economic downturns; Tina Barrett, director of Nebraska Farm Business Inc., will provide an up to date Nebraska producer financial picture and survival strategies; Jerry Catlett, senior vice president of Bruning State Bank, will talk about how to handle unfortunate financial news; Matt Habrock, assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, will discuss the Nebraska Farm Financial Health Survey. More information and registration can be found at http://cropinsure.unl.edu or by contacting Cory Walters at 402-472-0366 or cwalters7@unl.edu.
Grain Marketing Workshops: Grain marketing workshops are offered to help grain producers minimize losses during this time of low prices. The nearest Grain Marketing Workshop location will be held in Bladen on December 6th from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Webster County Fairgrounds on the west side of Crescent Street. You can register or view other locations at: go.unl.edu/marketingworkshops or by calling Robert Tigner at 308-345-3390. Nebraska Extension Educators will present location- and commodity-specific marketing information. Topics include developing a written marketing plan, and understanding basis and carrying charges. The workshops feature the Marketing in a New Era simulator and the Grain Marketing Plan smartphone application. Complimentary lunch is provided. Workshops, which are funded by the Nebraska Corn Board, are limited to 40 participants each.Â
October Turf Tips: If you haven’t applied your second fall fertilizer application yet, now is a good time to do it as a winterizer fertilizer. Fall fertilizer is important for protecting your lawn against winterkill, strengthening the root system of the plants, and allowing for better green-up in the spring. October is also a great time for weed control. Applying herbicide to perennial weeds such as dandelions, creeping Charlie and others allows for increased herbicide uptake and plant death in the fall because the herbicide is translocated to the roots along with nutrients the plant was intending to store. Be sure to read and follow all label directions. Ultimately the best weed control is a thick, dense lawn that is the result of fertilizing, irrigation, and proper pest control from https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/kansas/.
Small, black biting insects in landscapes right now are minute pirate bugs. This insect is about 1/8-inch long, oval to triangular in shape, flattened and black with whitish markings on the back. Normally, they are predators and feed on insect eggs and small insects. They feed by impaling their prey with their short blunt beak and sucking the juices. Minute pirate bugs are found throughout the summer in fields, woodlands, gardens and landscapes. In the late summer, they begin biting humans. They do not feed on blood or inject a venom or saliva.
People differ in their response from no reaction to bites that swell like a mosquito bite or turn red. Because the bite is noticeable and the pirate bug doesn’t fly quickly, the victim is usually able to successfully smash the offending insect. Control of minute pirate bugs is not practical. Repellents are generally not effective, although some people have found applying baby oil or suntan oil liberally to the skin may prevent some bites by coating the pirate bugs with oil.
Oak itch mites: Reports of itch mite bites are being received from workers performing landscape clean up tasks beneath oak trees. Female itch mites are present in oak leaf margin galls in fall and could fall on people working beneath trees. Signs of itch mite attack on humans are red welts on the neck, face, arms and upper torso. Normally bites are not found on the legs, which distinguishes these bites from those of chiggers. Oak trees with margined leaf fold galls indicate the likelihood of itch mite activity. It’s advised not to set under oak trees with these galls. When working under trees, especially if raking leaves, wear long sleeves, long pants and a hat. Use an insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin. Avoid direct handling of leaves and lawn clippings. Remove clothing each day and launder them, since mites can remain in the fabric for several days. Take a warm shower soon after coming indoors, since the mites need about four hours on your body to produce a bite.
